Wednesday

NEW LONDON - A convicted Norwich robber who was facing a two-year prison sentence in a domestic assault case will be getting out early after persuading a judge he may have changed his ways.

Judge Hillary Strackbein sentenced Joshua Blondeau, 32, on Wednesday in New London Superior Court to 18 months in prison followed by three years' probation.

Blondeau had pleaded guilty in April to first-degree unlawful restraint and admitted violating probation in the Aug. 2, 2017, incident at the apartment he and his girlfriend shared.

According to an arrest warrant affidavit from the probation department, the attack took place about two weeks after Blondeau got out of prison. He accused his girlfriend of cheating on him, grabbed her, threw her to the floor, placed a broken glass bottle against her neck and threatened to kill her, the affidavit said.

After being held for about 10 minutes, the woman was able to grab her phone, go outside and call 911, the affidavit said, and Norwich police arrested him.

Blondeau also violated his probation in November 2017, according to the affidavit, by driving drunk and hitting several cars parked on Broadway in Norwich. Norwich police arrested him on the probation violation charge on Dec. 18.

Blondeau's attorney, Paul Chinigo, argued at his sentencing that Blondeau has stayed sober since then. "I do think, your honor, he's worked hard with the victim to regain her trust," Chinigo said. "Given the strides he's made, I do ask the court to give him some consideration."

The woman was present at Blondeau's sentencing to support him.

"I have messed up a lot in my life," Blondeau said. But, he said, while free on bail after his arrests, "I worked hard. I stayed off drugs. I haven't fought with anybody. I'm proud of that."

Blondeau was convicted in September 2014 of a botched holdup he attempted a year earlier and received a four-year prison sentence.

According to authorities, he went into the Citgo gas station and convenience store on West Main Street in Norwich carrying a BB gun. Despite wearing a hood and mask that covered the bottom of his face, the clerk recognized Blondeau and refused to give him any money, so he grabbed cash from a customer who had just gotten about $7 change and ran out, authorities said. Then, a month later, he followed the clerk home from work and threatened him with a stun gun, authorities said.

Assistant State's Attorney Lawrence Tytla argued that Blondeau deserved two years in prison, saying he has been on probation several times and has never been able to complete it without a violation.

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